If she betrays us--well, you are in no
worse estate than now, and we will still have my sword and my men to
depend on. But that is a slender hope, and we will save it for a last
resort. Now we will hazard everything on this plan."
I had made my long speech nervously, knowing, in my heart, that what I
asked the man to do would take more courage of soul than one would
expect to find in his slender frame. For I might be throwing him over
to fiendish torment. The Indian women were cruel as weasels, and more
ingenious in their trap-setting than the men. It cooled my blood to
think what Singing Arrow's friendliness might really mean.
The prisoner heard me without flinching. "But what is Singing Arrow's
motive?" he asked, with his mournful eyes full on my own. "We cannot
read men's hearts, but, after all, there are but few springs that rule
their action. You know that I will be loyal to you to save my head, to
which, though it has served me badly, I yet cling. I know that you
will be loyal to me because I see that God gave you a softness of heart
which your brain tells you is unwise. But what string pulls this
Indian that she should be a traitor to her people? If you will give me
a hint, I will play upon it as best I can.
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